Conveyor apparatus for metal bars

ABSTRACT

A conveyor apparatus for metal bars comprising a first conveyor adapted to receive metal bars during its stationary phase and subsequently to feed the bars in a longitudinal direction, a second conveyor adapted to receive metal bars from said first conveyor during its statinary phase and to feed the bars in a lateral direction through a predetermined distance before stopping, and a truck having at its lower part a vertically movable electromagnet adapted to seize metal bars aligned on said second conveyor during its stationary phase, disposed upwardly of said second conveyor and designed to travel sidewise after said electromagnet seizes the metal bars.

United States Patent [19.]

Kojima CONVEYOR APPARATUS FOR METAL BARS [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co.,

Ltd., Tokyo, Japan 22 Filed: Feb. 6, 1974 v [21] App]. No.: 440,069

I-Iiromitsu Kojima, Takehara, Japan [52] U.S. CI 214/41, 53/164, 198/29,

s 198/37, 212/127, 214/6 FS, 214/89 [51] Int. Cl. B65g 57/04 [58] Fieldof Search 214/6 FS, 41, 89', 198/102; 7 53/164, 165, 244

[56] References Cited 1 I UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,540,612 2/1951 Fischeret al. 53/165 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,807,099 6/1969 Germany214/6 FS Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Woodhams, Blanchard & Flynn [571 ABSTRACT A conveyor apparatus formetalbars comprising a first conveyor adapted to receive metal barsduring its stationary phase and subsequently to feed the bars in alongitudinal direction, a second conveyor adapted to receive metal barsfrom said first conveyor during its statinary phase and to feed the barsin a lateral direction through a predetermined distance before stopping,and a truck having at its lower part a vertically movable electromagnetadapted to seize metal bars aligned on said second conveyor during itsstationary phase, disposed upwardly of said second conveyor and designedto travel sidewise after said electromagnet seizes the metal bars.

2 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 46 4s 47 4s 9 g o .L o 7' o 8 a e a M4 15 X8 A/ H O 22 o r 14 f PATENTED 1 I975 SHEET 01 1F 10 FIG. 2

Pmemau 1 I975 3.870.169

SHEET D20? 10 FIG. 3

PMENIED 1 19 5 FIG. 5

LSII

SHEET FIG. 4

PATENTED 3,870,169

' SHEET M 23F 10 M cKs-s M 90L; U F69 CONVEYOR APPARATUS FOR METAL BARSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a conveyorapparatus for metal bars, and more particularly to such a conveyorapparatus that aligns and conveys such beams as used to suspend leadcathode plates for metallic salts electrolysis process.

Generally, because those electrode plates for metallic saltselectrolysis process (mostly lead plates) are not sufficiently selfsupporting, they are suspended from beams during transportation orduring loading and unloading into the electrolysis baths. Up to now,because there has been no automatic means for aligning and conveyingthose beams after removing used electrode plates frornthem, they havebeen manually handled, to a great expenditure of manpower and loss ofefficiency and labor.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a conveyorapparatus that automatically aligns, piles and efficiently conveys metalbars by combining conveyors and a hanging truck that incorporates anelectromagnet, with a view to eliminating those defects.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a conveyorapparatus wherein underneath a first conveyor adapted to intermittentlyfeed metal bars from a higher position to a lower position, a secondhorizontal conveyor is disposed in an intersecting relationshiptherewith for receiving said metal bars from said first conveyor, forintermittently conveying said bars laterally, and for aligning arequired number of said bars in parallel laterally on said secondconveyor, and above these aligned bars, there is disposed a hangingtruck having a bottom mounted electromagnet designed to come down onthose bars and lift them, said truck being adapted to travel to anotherposition where it releases the bars, whereby those bars which are fedonto the first conveyor in an random condition are sent outautomatically in an aligned condition in units of predetermined numbers,to a great convenience for subsequent bar handling operations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a conveyorapparatus wherein underneath the stroke end position of said hangingtruck, another truck is disposed, on which those bars which are releasedfrom said hanging truck are automatically transferred in an alignedcondition, facilitating the conveying of bars to other processinglocations.

The present invention will be explained more particularly with referenceto the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an outline oblique view of a'metal bar conveyor apparatus representing an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of an example of a hanging truck, shownpartly in section, incorporating a motor M2;

FIG. 3 is a partly sectional plan view of the object shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the object of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing the ararngement of the limitswitches that control the object shown in FIG. 1; and

, 2 FIG. 6 through Qare circuit drawings related to the object showninFIG. .l.

I DETAILED DESCRIPTIONOF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG; I, there isshown a conveyor device extracting device and said trolley 5 isconnected to said beam delivery device.

The first conveyor 2 comprises a paizyof chains 7 and 7, which span twosprocket pairs 8 and 9 and a driving sprocket pair 10 in a right-angletriangle form with the horizontal side at the top and another side in anearly vertical position, and a plurality of hooks b atached in pairs onthe outside of said chains 7 and 7 at an appropriate interval.

The second conveyor 3 comprises a pair of chains 12 and 12', which spana sprocket pair 13 and a driving sprocket pair 14 in a nearly horizontaldisposition, and

a plurality of hooks ll attached in pairs on the outside chains 12 and12', whereby the upper span portion of said chains 12 and i2 intersectswith the bottom por tion of the vertical part of said chains 7 and 7',and a pair of aligning cylinders 22 and 22' are disposed on each side ofsaid chain pair 7 and 7, facing each other.

A pair of rails 15 carrying a hanging truck 4 through the intermediaryof wheels 17, are disposed above the second conveyor 3 a little distancefrom the intersection between the second conveyor 3 and the firstconveyor 2 along the feed direction of the second conveyor 3.

Below, the detailed structure of said hanging truck 4 will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 2 through 4.

At the four corners of the chassis 16, there are four vertical post oneeach at each corner, and to each of these posts on the external side inthe travelling direction, one each slide guide 18 having guide slot 30opening in the direction perpendicular to the travelling direction isattached.

One each movable post 21 is disposed opposite to each guide slot of saidchassis 16, two of which movable post 21 facing each other over twoslide guides 18' are connected with one each shaft 31 and 31 thatpenetrates a pair of said guide slot 30. To these shaft 31 and 31,respectively pairs of end portions of parallel links 28 and 29 areswivellably connected, thereby pairs of other ends of the parallel links28 and 29 are swivellably connected to link shafts 23 and 23respectively. Other pairs of parallel links 24 and 25 are swivellablyconnected at their one ends respectively to said link shafts 23 and 23,and the other ends of the pair 24 are fixedly connected to a shaft 27swivellably supported by bearing 26 that is mounted on said chassis 16,while the other ends of thepair 25 are fixedly connected to a shaft 27'swivellably mounted on the posts 18, whereby said two link shafts 23 and23' are connected each other with a connecting rod 32. To said shaft 27,one end of an arm 33 is fixedly connected with the other end of said armextending in the opposite direction to said parallel link 24 and beingconnected to a piston rod 37 of a power cylinder M3 that is swivellablysupported at its end by the chassis 16. A motor M2 mounted on thechassis 16 is adapted to drive a sprocket 40 mounted on one wheel shaft39 over a chain 34. At the lower ends of the movable posts 21, there isinstalled a hanger 20 which suspends an electromagnet 19 through theintermediary of rods 39.

In FIG. 1, a truck 5, mounted on rails 41, carries a box 43 on it, andat the lower part of the box 43, two rods 44 are laterally disposed,while on the top of the box 43, a plurality of longitudinal plates 45are fixed a a uniform space. I I

A pair of guide chutes 46 are disposed in an inclination to thehorizontal posrtion of said first conveyor 2 with their upper endslocated in the proximity of the discharge end of a conveyor 48 whichoscillates up and down around a pair of sprockets 48. A receiving tray29 is also shown.

Now, the arrangement of limit switches that control drive and operationof each member is explained in connection with the beam movements, inreference to FIG. 5. 7

Limit switches LS1 and LS2 are both incorporated in the drive controlcircuit for the first conveyor 2, the former being disposed within thetravelling range of beams B at the intersection area between the guidechute 46 and the chains 7 and 7, and the latter being disposed withinthe travelling range of the hooks 6 underneath the position where thechains 7 and 7' change their direction, into horizontal one, thereby assoon as a beam B reaches the first conveyor 2 after sliding down theguide chute 46, the limit switch LS1 is closed to start a conveyor 2driving motor M1, and then when the conveyor 2 is driven through apreset distance, a hook 6 trips the limit switch LS2 to stop the motorMl. ,A limit switch LS3 that is provided to cooperate with the drivecontrol circuit for the second conveyor 3 and the beam counter circuitis disposed in the neighborhood of the intersection between the firstand second conveyors between thechains l2 and 12, so that as soon as abeam B, descending on a set of hooks 6, comes down upon thechains l2 and12' of the conveyor 3, said limit switch LS3 is tripped to start thedriving motor M2 of the conveyor 3, while-a limit switch LS4 that isalso incorporated in the drive control circuit for the conveyor 3 isdisposed within the moving range of a driving sprocket 14 driving theconveyor 3 and having a sprocket pitch that is equal to the pitch of thehooks on the chains 12 and 12', so that when the conveyor 3 moves adistance corresponding to one pitch of the hook 11 of the conveyor 3,the sprocket teeth of the sprocket 14 moves through one pitch and thelimit switch LS4 is tripped to stop the motor M2. A limit switch LSincorporated in the full beam load detection circuit of the conveyor 3and in the truck electromagnet control circuit is disposed near theright end ofthe conveyor 3 in the passage of beams B, so that whtn apredetermined number of beams B (normally l5 being intermittentlyconveyed through a we set distance at a time in parallel at a regularspace, is arranged on the conveyor 3, the foremost beam B trips thelimit switch LS5 to stop the motor M2. Limit switches LS6 and LS7cooperating with the driving and energizing circuit of the electromagnetand with the lift drive control circuit of the hanging truck 4 aredisposed on such members of the truck 4 as the parallel links 24 and 25,the movable posts 21, and the power cylinder M3, the former detectingthe lower limit of the electromagnet, and the latter detecting its upperlimit to stopping the actuation .of the power cylinder M3.

Limit switches LS8 and LS9 incorporated in the drive control circuit ofthe hanging truck 4 are disposed at both ends of the rail 15 for saidtruck 4, the latter limit switch tripping to stop the motor M4 when thetruck 4 comes properly above one batch of arrayed beams B on theconveyor '3, while the former tripping to stop the motor M4, when thetruck 4 comes above the box 43 of the truck 5. Limit switches LS10 andLSll are incorporated in the drive control circuit of the truck 5, theformer being disposed underneath the front edge of the truck 5 withinthe contacting range of a stopper disposed at the end of the rail 41 forsaid truck, while the latter being disposed underneath the rear edge ofsaid truck within the contact range of a stopper disposed at the otherend of the rail 41 of said truck below the rail 15 for said hangingtruck 4, thereby when the truck 4 is found at the forward end of itsstroke, the limit switch LSll is tripped directly underneath it, to stopthe motor M5 for the truck 4, thus providing the rearward limit stopforthe truck 5, and similarly when the limit switch LS10 is tripped, themotor M5 is stopped thus providing the forward limit stop for the truck5.

Below, the operation of the illustrated embodiment will be explainedwith reference to the control circuit diagrams FIGS. 6 through 9,wherein for the purpose of simplifying the description, each line isidentified as a whole by a numeral entered in the diagrams at one end ofthat line in parentheses, timers and their contacts are identified byTR], TR2 auxiliary relays and their contacts are identified by LR], LR2electromagnetic switches for the motors M1, M2 are identified by'MSl,MS2 the operating coils and the return coils for keep relays areidentified by KRl-O, KRl-R, and their contacts are identified by KRl-O.

When a beam B is extracted by a beam extracting device (not shown) froman electrode plate (not shown) and is transferred onto a tray 49 on theconveyor 47 via some conveying device (not shown), the conveyor 47detects it and raises its one end, thereby allowing the tray 29 carryingthis beam B to move downward until this beam is dropped on the guidechute 46, with which the beam is sent to the first conveyor 2.

a. Operation of the first conveyor When 2, it is caught by a pair ofhooks 6 on the chain 7 and 7 that happen to be in the immediateneighborhood of the lower end of the chute 46, and at the same time, thebeam B trips the limit switch LS1 to energize the timer TRl on the line(8), whereupon after a preset time interval (1 sec.), the contact TRl onthe line (10) (drive control circuit for the first conveyor) is closedby the operation of said timer, to energize the electromagnetic switchMSl, with the result that the contact M81 in FIG. 6 is closed to startthe motor M1 that drives the conveyor 2. When the conveyor 2 is driventhrough a predetermined distance, a hook 6 on the chains 7 and 7' tripsthe limit switch LS2 to energize the timer TR2 on the line (11), and atthe same time, to energize the relay LR2, thus opening the contact LR2on the line (9), with the result that the electromagnetic switch M-Sl isopened to stop the motor M1. Then, after a preset time interval, thetimer TR2 oper-. ates to open the contact TR2 on the line (11) thusreturning the relay LR2. In this way, the beam B dropped on the conveyor2 is conveyed from the position immediately below thelower end of theguide chute 46 through a preset distance, and an empty pair of hooks 6are brought to the neighborhood of the lower end of the guide chute 46to be ready to repeat the same operation when a next beam B will bedopped on the conveyor 2. b. Operation of the second conveyor When abeam B, being carried downward on a pair of hooks 6 on the firstconveyor 2, reaches the intersection between the first conveyor and thesecond conveyor 3, because the first conveyor 2 and the second conveyor3 are relatively so positioned that the stopping position of a pair ofhooks 6 of the conveyor 2 is a little below the chains12 and 12 of theconveyor 3, that beam B is transferred from the hooks 6 onto the twochains of the conveyor 3, and simultaneously, the beam trips the limitswitch LS3 to energize both the timer TR3 on the line (12) and the relayLR3, which in turn closes the contact LR3 on the line (18) (beam countercircuit) to register one beam count then, after a preset time interval,the timer TR operates to close the contact TR3 on the line (14) (drivecontrol circuit for the second conveyor) to close the electromagneticswitch MS2, with the result that the contact M52 in FIG. 6 is close tostart the motor M2 that drives the conveyor 3. When the conveyor 3 isdriven, its driving sprocket 14 having the same tooth pitch as the hookpitch of the conveyor 3 turns, tripping the limit switdh LS4 with itstooth, with the result that both the timer TR4 on the line (15) and therelay LR4 are energized, which in turn open the contact LR4 on the line(15) to open the electromagnetic switch MS2, stopping the motor M2.Then, after a preset time, the timer TR4 opens the contact TR4 to returnthe relay LR4. When a next beam B is put on the conveyor 3, the sameoperation just described starts again, and while beams B are transferredform the conveyor 2 to the conveyor 3, if their alignment is disturbed,the beam aligning cylinders 22 is operated to correct the alignment.That is to say, when a beam B transferred to the conveyor 3 is sentthrough one pitch and stopped, and then another beam B is put on theconveyor 2 and the conveyor is driven in motion, the relay MSlX on theline is simultaneoulsy energized to close the contact MSlX on the line(16) (control circuit for the beam aligning cylinders), with the resultthat the relay X1 is actuated to close the contact X1 energizing thetimer TR3, and at the same time the relay X2 is actuated to close thecontact X2 on the line (17) energizing the air valves SOLl and SOLZ,which in turn thrust guide plates towards both ends of the beam Buniformly to align the beam B on the chains 12 and 12 of the conveyor 3.Then, after a preset time interval, the timer TR5 operates to open thecontact TRS returning the relay X1, which in turn, by opening thecontact X1, returns the relay X2, which in turn switches over thealigning cylinders into retraction by opening the contact X2 on the line(17). In this way, on the conveyor 3, beams B are aligned at a presetspace without misalignment. When a predetermined number of beams B arealigned on the conveyor 3, the switch CR1 connected to the beam countercircuit of the line (18) is closed to energize the timer TR6 on the line(19) and at the same time to actuate the relay CRlX, closing the contactC RlX on the line (13), with the result that even when the contacts LR4on the line (13) is opened when the relay LR4 is actuated by the closingof the limit switch LS4, the operation of the electromagnetic switch M52is maintained, with the result that the conveyor 3 is kept in motion forfurther several pitches. The timer TR6 on the line (19) is operated toreverse the contact TR6 on the line (18) to start the timer TR7 on theline (18), which then open the contact TR7 on the line l9) to return therelay CRlX opening the contact CRlX on the line (13). Therefore, when atooth of the sprocket 14 trips the limit switch LS4 to actuate the relayLR4 causing the contact LR4 on the line (13) to open, theelectromagnetic switch M82 is opened to stop the motor M2, with theresult that again the motor M2 is made ready to drive the conveyor 3beam by beam through one pitch at a time, forming a new batch of alignedbeams on the conveyor 3. When the first beam of the foregoing batchcomes up to the limit switch LS5 and trips it, the relay LRS on the line(20) is actuated opening the contact LR5 on the line (13) causingelectromagnetic switch M52 to open to stop the motor M2, and at the sametime, also the relay LRS on-the line (27) is closed, closing theelectromagnetic switch MS3F which in turn energized the power cylinderM3 shown in FIG. 6. c. Operation of the hanging truck When the powercylinder M3 is energized while related members are in the positionsshown in FIG. 2, the arm 33 rotates the shaft 27 to lift up the parallellink 24, pulling up the parallel link 25 through the connecting rod 32.When the arm 33 is turned up to the point beneath the shaft 27, both theparallel link sets 24, 28 and 25, 29 are aligned on straight lines,pushing up the movable shafts 31 and 31 as well as the movable posts 21and 21, which in turn lift up the hanger 20 and the electromagnet 19suspending therefrom. When the foregoing operations are reversed, theelectromagnet 19 is lowered and the related members return to theinitial positions.

The electromagnet 19, that is normally positioned in its lifted positionabove the arrayed one batch of beams on the conveyor 3, is lowered, whenthe power cylinder M3 is energized, through the series of operationsdescribed above together with the hanger 20, being suspended from themovable posts 21. When the limit sw'tich LS6 is tripped at the lower endof the hanger stroke, the relay LR6 on the line (28) is actuated to openthe contact LR6 on the line (26), causing the electromagnetic switchMS3F to open, which in turn stop the power cylinder M3. Simultaneouslywith the above, as the relay LR6 is actuated, also the contact LR6 onthe line (13) is opened to make ready for the re-closing of the contactLRS on the same line which takes place when the beams B are removed, andanother contact LR6 on the line (30) is closed to actuate KR1O, closingthe contact KRl-O on the line (27-3), with the result that theelectromagnet 19 is energized to attract and seize the beams arrayed onthe conveyor 3 directly below the electromagnet 19. Simultaneously withthe above, as said keep relay KR7-0 is actuated, the contact KRl-O onthe line (27-3) is closed to actuate the electromagnetic switch MS3Rwhich in turn reverse the power cylinder M3 with the result that theabove-described truck motions are versed so that the hanger 20 and theelectromagnet 19 that carries beams are lifted. When the hanger 20reaches its upper stroke limit, the limit switch LS7 is closedenergizing the relay LR7 on line (31), with the result that firstly, the

contact LR7 on the line (27-1) is opened to open the electromagneticswitch MS3R which stops the power cylinder M3, and secondly, the contactLR7 on the line (33) is closed to close the electromagnetic switch MS4Fon the line (32), which in turn starts the motor M4 driving the hangingtruck 4, to move the truck 4 as a whole. When the moving hanging truck 4reaches the position directly above the beam box 43, at its forwardstroke end, the limit switch LS8 on the line (34) is closed to energizethe relay LR8, opening the contact LR8 on the line (32), with the resultthat the electromagnetic switch MS4F is opened to stop the motor M4,stopping the hanging truck 4. The relative stopping position of thehanging truck 4 is so adjusted that when the beams B seized underneaththe electromagnet 19 is released, they drop directly into the box 43.For the electromagnet to be deenergized by the actuation of the keeprelay KRl-R, through the closing of the contact LR8'0n the line (30), ofthe relay LR8, the contact LRll on the line (30), must be in the closedcondition. This is only possible when the limit switch LSll on the line(44) is on, and the relay LRpp is in an energized condition. This meansthat only when the truck is at its rearmost end position directly belowthe forward position of the hanging truck 4, where the truck '5 is in awaiting position with its rear limit switch L511 tripped by the stopper,the electromagnet 19 can be dcenergized to allow the beams to fall intothe box 43 on the truck 5. After a preset time (normally 2 sec)following an actuation of the relay LR8 on the line (34), the timer TR9is closed, actuating the timer relay TR9' so as to close the contact TR9on the line (33-3); as the result the electromagnetic switch MS4R isclosed to drive the motor M4 in reverse so as to drive the hanging truck4 backward. When the hanging truck 4 retreats and comes to the rear endposition corresponding to the position above the conveyor 3, the limitswitch LS9 is tripped to actuate the relay LR9 on the line (35), withthe result that the contact LR9 on the line (32-1) is opened, therebyopening the electromagnetic contact MS4R to stop the motor M4 to stopthe truck 4 in its rest position. In this way, when one batch of beamsare loaded on the conveyor 3, and when the foremost beam trips the limitswitch LS5, the same operation starts again. d. Motion of the trucks Asbeams are stacked in each section of the box 43 on the truck 5, thenumber of stacked layers of beams are counted by the counter CR2 on theline (36) (beam stack counting circuit) based on the number ofoperations of the contact KRl-O, which is controlled by the keep relayKRl-O on the line (30). When a predetermined number oflayers have beenstacked, the contact CR2 on the circuit (38) is closed by a command fromsaid counter circuit, and the, when the next batch of beams intended toform the th layer are conveyed by the hanging truck into a positiondirectly above the track 5, the limit switch LS8 on the line (34) isclosed actuate the relay LR8, which results on one hand in the droppingand storing of the beams in the box 43, as was mentioned earlier, and onthe other hand, in the closing of the contact LR8 on the line (38) whichin turn results in the actuation of the keep relay KR2-O, whichactuation bringing about the following series of actuations, namely; thecontact KR2-0 in the line (39) closed-relay TRIO energized after thelapse of preset time (normally 5 sec.) relay TRIO operates contact TRIOon the line (41) closes motor M5 starts the truck 5 is sent to e.g., abeam supply mechanism (not shown) in the electrode plate making process.As soon as the limit switch L510 installed at the front end of the truckis closed by a stopper, the relay LR10 on the line (42) is actuated thecontact LR10 in the line (40) is opened the electromagnet switch MSSF isopened with the result that the motor M5 is stopped. Simultaneously withthis, the contact LR10 in the line (36) is closed, bringing the counterreading back to zero and at the same time by closing the contact LR10 inthe line (38), dcenergizing the keep relay KRZ-R and consequentlydeleting the memory for completion of beam loading. After the box 43 isreplaced with an empty box by a crane, the push button PB22' on the line(43) is depressed to close the electromagnetic switch MSSR, which inturn switches over the motor M5 to bring the truck 5 back. When thelimit switch LSll on the returning truck 5 is closed, the relay LRll onthe line (.44) is actuated to open the contact LRll on the line (43)opening the electromagnetic switch MSSR and consequently stopping themotor M5.

Thereupon, the hanging truck 4 immediately starts to load the box withbeams B as before and thus the same operation cycle is repeated oncemore.

It should be understood however, that although is the foregoingdescription of an embodiment, only beams are assumed for the object ofalignment and conveyance, the application scope of the present inventionis by no means limited to beams, but generally any metallic bar-likeobjects, especially those susceptible to magnetic attraction or thosethat can be made susceptible to magnetic attraction bby some treatmentsor the other, can be handled.

What is claimed is:

l. A conveyor apparatus for metallic bar-formed objects comprising:

1. a first coveyor having a vertically disposed, and intermittenlydriven member, adapted to receive laterally disposed metallic bar-formedobjects at its upper portion during its stationary phase, and to conveythe received objects sequentially downward;

2. a second conveyor having an intermittently driven member that ishorizontally disposed underneath said first conveyor in an intersectingrelationship therewith, adapted to receive on its upper side thosemetallic bar-formed objects, which are delivered by said firstconveyor,'during its stationary phase, and to convey them sequentiallyin a horizontal direction;

3. a hanging truck having a vertically movable electromagnet in itslower part, adapted to be driven along a line intersecting thetravelling direction of said second conveyor, at a predetermineddistance therefrom, whereby said electromagnet is normally positionedabove said second conveyor at a predetermined distance upward therefrom,but when a required number of metallic bar-formed objects are aligned onthe second conveyor, said electromagnet is lowered, siezes the alignedobjects through electromagnetic attraction, and is lifted, thereupon thetruck is driven horizontally to its stroke end position where theelectromagnet is deenergized.

2. A conveyor apparatus for metallic bar-formed objects according toclaim 1, comprising additionally a further truck is driven to apredetermined destination as soon as said box is filled with metallicbar-formed objects.

1. A conveyor apparatus for metallic bar-formed objects comprising:
 1. afirst conveyor having a vertically disposed, and intermittently drivenmember, adapted to receive laterally disposed metallic bar-formedobjects at its upper portion during its stationary phase, and to conveythe received objects sequentially downward;
 2. a second conveyor havingan intermittently driven member that is horizontally disposed underneathsaid first conveyor in an intersecting relationship therewith, adaptedto receive oN its upper side those metallic bar-formed objects, whichare delivered by said first conveyor, during its stationary phase, andto convey them sequentially in a horizontal direction;
 3. a hangingtruck having a vertically movable electromagnet in its lower part,adapted to be driven along a line intersecting the travelling directionof said second conveyor, at a predetermined distance therefrom, wherebysaid electromagnet is normally positioned above said second conveyor ata predetermined distance upward therefrom, but when a required number ofmetallic bar-formed objects are aligned on the second conveyor, saidelectromagnet is lowered, siezes the aligned objects throughelectromagnetic attraction, and is lifted, thereupon the truck is drivenhorizontally to its stroke end position where the electromagnet isdeenergized.
 1. A conveyor apparatus for metallic bar-formed objectscomprising:
 1. a first conveyor having a vertically disposed, andintermittently driven member, adapted to receive laterally disposedmetallic bar-formed objects at its upper portion during its stationaryphase, and to convey the received objects sequentially downward;
 3. ahanging truck having a vertically movable electromagnet in its lowerpart, adapted to be driven along a line intersecting the travellingdirection of said second conveyor, at a predetermined distancetherefrom, whereby said electromagnet is normally positioned above saidsecond conveyor at a predetermined distance upward therefrom, but when arequired number of metallic bar-formed objects are aligned on the secondconveyor, said electromagnet is lowered, siezes the aligned objectsthrough electromagnetic attraction, and is lifted, thereupon the truckis driven horizontally to its stroke end position where theelectromagnet is deenergized.